14 DAY TRIAL // Watchmakers need to keep up with the evolving modern world, and with so many people looking for more advanced devices, building smartwatches seems to be the only way to go.
And Casio knows that very well, so the company launched at this year's CES the so-called Smart Outdoor Watch, which is actually the first smartwatch in the history of the firm.
Looking just like a more modern and smart version of G-shock, the new device is powered by Android Wear and tries to make the most of the platform with features that are nowhere to be seen right now on the market.
Let's start with the best. The Casio smartwatch comes with two different displays, one monochrome and another one with 16 million colors. The latter is being used for the typical smartwatch mode, and you can enjoy the full power of the device, while the former is specifically supposed to come into play for those who want to benefit from longer battery life.
How long? That's definitely the question with the most interesting answer. Casio says the device can last up to 30 days using the monochrome display, but this means that all fitness tracking and smartwatch capabilities are off. And you won't have any colors on your screen, of course.
The Casio device features a 1.32-inch screen with a resolution of 320x300 pixels while also coming with a compass to show pressure and altitude, sunrise and sunset times. It's also waterproof, and the company says that it can work fine in water up to 50 meters deep.
It doesn't have GPS, though, so it'll have to connect to your phone and use its GPS sensor.
The Apple Watch target
Although the Casio smartwatch and the Apple Watch seem to target different buyers, Kazuhiro Kashio, president of the Japanese firm, claims their new device is a much better alternative to this model.
He said at CES that while Apple indeed brought more people into this new side of the business, many are actually buying the Apple Watch but then don't know what to do with it.
So with a Casio smartwatch that you're supposed to wear every day, you should discover the outdoor fun and really make the most of such an advanced device, the Casio official says.
No specifics have been provided yet, but Casio suggests the smartwatch could go on sale in the United States for about $500 (€465). It will be available in several colors, including orange, red, black, and green.
